One of the most crucial steps in translating Jiki is determining the right terms to consistently use throughout. Generally these are technical terms, or terms used in the Jiki analogies. This is a thread, intended to go on forever, where we can highlight incorrect terms and agree correct variants.
This is the initial set of terms we propose for Simplified Chinese. We will keep this list updated as we update it internally.
Terms we translate into Simplified Chinese
These are terms whose Chinese rendering is confirmed identical, character for character, across both locales. Split by theme for readability; every table below follows the same columns.
Values & data types
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
value
值
no
Ordinary word. Identical in both scripts.
true / false
真 / 假
no
Lowercase-equivalent in prose; code literals stay English. Identical in both scripts.
dictionary
字典
yes
First use: 字典（dictionary）. Identical in both scripts.
element
元素
yes
Array element. Identical in both scripts.
Tooling & engineering
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
method
方法
yes
First use: 方法（method）. Identical in both scripts.
workflow
工作流程
yes
First use: 工作流程（workflow）. The software-engineering sense. Identical in both scripts.
deploy
部署
no
Identical in both scripts.
framework
框架
no
Fully translated (see § Loanword policy in guide.md); not kept as an English loanword. Identical in both scripts.
These are terms where the Chinese is used in prose. The “Clarify” column specifies whether terms get an English version in parentheses on their first use, e.g. “函数（function）”. Split by theme for readability; every table below follows the same columns.
Values & data types
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
number
数字
no
Ordinary word.
integer
整数
yes
First use: 整数（integer）.
float / decimal
浮点数 (technical) / 小数 (plain)
yes
First use: 浮点数（float）; use 小数 where the floating-point nature doesn’t matter.
character
字符
no
A single text character.
array / list
数组
yes
First use: 数组（array）. Exercise prose that says “list” informally is the same concept; render it with 数组, do not introduce a second word.
First use: 下标（index）. Keep the two senses distinct: 下标 for a position inside an array/list, 索引 for the broader concept.
key-value pair
键值对
yes
First use: 键值对（key-value pair）. The key itself is 键 (ordinary word once introduced).
string
字符串
yes
First use: 字符串（string）. Fully localized per the loanword policy in ../zh/guide.md; not kept in English.
Boolean
布尔 / 布尔值
yes
First use: 布尔值（Boolean）. Fully localized; not kept in English.
data type
数据类型
yes
First use: 数据类型（data type）. The general concept, distinct from any specific type name.
Functions & control flow
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
if statement
if 语句 (primary) / 条件语句
yes
First use: if 语句（if statement）.
condition
条件
no
Ordinary word; stands alone.
comparison
比较
no
Ordinary word; stands alone.
expression
表达式
no
operator
运算符
no
statement (executable)
语句
yes
The imperative sense: a line of code that does something and gets executed. First use: 语句（statement）.
statement (logical claim)
断言
yes
The proposition/assertion sense: a claim that is true or false. First use: 断言（assertion）. Pick by meaning, not by the English word.
function
函数
yes
The keywordfunction in code stays English; the concept in prose is 函数. First use: 函数（function）.
to call (a function)
调用
no
调用一个函数.
to define (a function)
定义
no
parameter
形参
yes
Declaration-site name. First use: 形参（parameter）. Keep distinct from 实参 (argument), see below.
argument
实参
yes
Call-site value. First use: 实参（argument）. Keep distinct from 形参 (parameter).
input (to a function)
输入
yes
First use: 输入（input）.
output
输出
yes
First use: 输出（output）.
to return (a value)
返回
no
“返回一个值。”
return value
返回值
no
Noun form; distinct from the verb 返回.
pure function
纯函数
yes
First use: 纯函数（pure function）.
Loops, state & program flow
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
keyword
关键字
yes
First use: 关键字（keyword）.
variable
变量
yes
First use: 变量（variable）.
assignment
赋值
yes
Noun. First use: 赋值（assignment）.
to assign
赋值 / 赋值给
no
Verb; matches 赋值 above.
code block
代码块
no
Deliberately distinct from 作用域 (scope).
error
错误
no
exception
异常
yes
The catchable-error-object sense, distinct from 错误 (error) as a general term. First use: 异常（exception）.
nested
嵌套
no
e.g. 嵌套循环 = nested loop.
iteration
迭代
no
Distinct from zh-TW’s 疊代; not a script variant, a genuinely different word.
to run / execute (code)
运行 (default, casual) / 执行 (formal)
no
loop
循环
yes
First use: 循环（loop）. Deliberately different from zh-TW’s 迴圈.
for loop
for 循环
yes
Keep for in code font (real keyword) + 循环.
while loop
while 循环
yes
As above.
for-of loop
for-of 循环
yes
As above.
loop body
循环体
no
break (loop control)
跳出循环
no
The keyword break in code stays English; this is the prose concept of breaking out of a loop.
increment
自增
yes
First use: 自增（increment）.
modulo / remainder operator
取模 (primary) / 求余
yes
First use: 取模（modulo）. The % operator.
concatenation / to concatenate
拼接
yes
First use: 拼接（concatenation）.
toggle
切换
no
state / stateful
状态 / 有状态的
no
scope
作用域
yes
Fully translated, not kept in English. First use: 作用域（scope）. Deliberately distinct from 代码块 (code block). Note: zh-TW also offers 範圍 as an alternative rendering; this locale uses only 作用域, so the term is kept separate per locale rather than merged.
class
类
yes
First use: 类（class）. Deliberately different from zh-TW’s 類別.
property
属性
yes
First use: 属性（property）.
object
对象
yes
First use: 对象（object）. Deliberately different from zh-TW’s 物件.
encapsulation
封装
yes
The OOP concept of bundling data with the methods that operate on it and hiding internals. First use: 封装（encapsulation）.
Tooling & engineering
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
auth (authentication)
身份验证
no
auth (authorization)
授权
no
Keep distinct from 身份验证 (authentication); pick by meaning.
tool / tooling
工具
no
module
模块
yes
First use: 模块（module）. Deliberately different from zh-TW’s 模組.
algorithm
算法
yes
First use: 算法（algorithm）. Deliberately different from zh-TW’s 演算法.
edge case
边界情况
yes
First use: 边界情况（edge case）. More established than 边缘情况; do not mix both in one document.
backwards compatibility
向后兼容
no
component
组件
yes
First use: 组件（component）. Fully localized, not kept in English.
Platform & curriculum vocabulary
English
Chinese
Clarify?
Notes
feature (platform capability)
功能
no
Deliberately distinct from 函数 (function); see guide.md § Style notes. Never use 函数 for a product feature.
lesson
课程
no
exercise
练习
no
scenario
场景
no
Jiki-specific: a structured variant within an exercise.
curriculum
课程体系
no
level
关卡
no
The gamified sense; fits Jiki’s tone.
milestone
里程碑
no
pathway
学习路径
no
bootcamp
训练营
no
syllabus
教学大纲
no
mentor / mentoring
导师 / 指导
no
track (curriculum path)
学习路线
no
tutorial
教程
no
solution (learner’s submission)
提交的解答
no
canvas (graphics exercises)
画布
no
The drawing surface in creative-coding exercises.
foot-gun
(descriptive, no fixed term)
no
Idiomatic; render descriptively per context, e.g. 容易误用的功能. Do not force a glossary row.
Terms we keep in English
These stay in English in prose. Give the Chinese gloss once on first use in a document. See ../zh/glossary.md § Clarify column for why this section is short: the loanword policy is “fully localize”, so only true acronyms and product/language names count as kept in English.
Term
Chinese gloss (first use only)
Notes
API
应用程序接口
Not a word a beginner knows; first use must explain the concept in Chinese, not just gloss the acronym.
CLI (the concept)
命令行
First use: explain CLI as 命令行 (command line). In dev-tool contexts after first gloss, CLI may be used as the acronym; 命令行 remains the general-prose term.
JavaScript, Python, React
(no gloss)
Product / language names.
Debug, Test
(no gloss)
As keywords / technical tokens.
Code, Bug, Frontend, Backend
(no gloss)
Variable and function names
(no gloss)
Never translated.
CLI commands (npm install, git commit)
(no gloss)
The commands themselves are never translated.
Jikiscript / programming keywords (repeat, function, if, for, …)
(no gloss)
Always English, including inside prose. Translate only the surrounding explanation.
Jiki teaching metaphors
Load-bearing teaching terms. Use exactly the agreed rendering; never substitute dry technical language. These four are confirmed character-identical across both locales; see guide.md § “Jiki physical metaphors” for why chain, machine, and shelves are locale-only instead.
English metaphor
Chinese rendering
Notes
box (value container)
盒子
A box that holds a value; plain, concrete word. Identical in both scripts.
whiteboard (a function’s internal notes)
白板
Where a function keeps its instructions. Identical in both scripts.
input slot
投入口
The vending-machine framing: the slot a coin/value goes into. Identical in both scripts; verified none of these three characters have a Simplified/Traditional variant.
return chute
出料口
The vending-machine framing: the chute a value/item comes out of. Identical in both scripts; verified none of these three characters have a Simplified/Traditional variant.
Load-bearing teaching terms. Use exactly the agreed rendering; never substitute dry technical language. See ../zh/glossary.md for the metaphors shared with zh-TW (box, whiteboard, input slot, return chute); the rows below are this locale’s own glyphs for the metaphors that diverge by script or by word choice (rationale in ../zh/guide.md).
English metaphor
Chinese rendering
Notes
chain (array metaphor)
链 / 链条
Etymologically the root of 链表 (“linked list”) in standard Chinese data-structures textbooks (e.g. 严蔚敏《数据结构》); an unusually well-grounded, native metaphor, not an import. Link = 链环/链节.
machine (function metaphor)
机器
The machine a function is modelled as, with its input slot (投入口, shared) and return chute (出料口, shared).
shelves (where things are stored)
货架
The shelves where variables and functions live.
Please use this thread to discuss any changes or additions you think should be made. Please do NOT use LLMs to generate suggestions and only use your own personal knowledge.